Welcome to Throwback Thursday! This is the place where we get to indulge in nostalgia and wax poetic about excellent metal of years past. TBT numbero 77 features a humble, yet illuminating, list of times metal reared it's ugly, maggot-laden head into the consciousness of the uninitiated masses. When metal music, whose very nature is to be counter-culture, makes it's way into popular media the result punctuates a bold statement – metal isn't for everyone, but the door is always open for the rare wayward soul who might've discovered something new they didn't know about the polarizing genre. To the folks who thought metal was solely squared on Devil worship, to them I say come and join us – the waters are delightfully dark and there's something here for everyone (and, only a few of us worship His Infernal Majesty).
Metal in Movies
One of the more notable moments of metal making an unexpected cameo into a mainstream movie comes to us from the 1995 comedy flick Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Main character Ace Ventura, played by the illustrious Jim Carrey, is on a hunt to find a person of interest when he finds himself in uncharted territory with extreme metal pioneers Cannibal Corpse:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxiL1sl1mAU][/youtube]
And if you haven't seen it, here's a great scene which didn't make the final cut of the film:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27LrNH7H0Vg][/youtube]
This isn't the only time 'Jim Carrey' and 'metal' have occupied the same sentence. Carrey spoke about his love of Napalm Death on the once beloved Arsenio Hall talk show:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9rdQdz7WRA][/youtube]
Metal in Schools
Children of Bodom bassist Henkka Seppala was once a teacher/featured guest speaker at a conference at the prestigious University of Dayton entitled “Metal in Strange Places: Aural, Emotional, Tactile, Visual”. A few dozen metal scholars presented at this conference, pushing the point that, “Metal music studies is a growing field and it cuts across all disciplines: anthropology, sociology, English, history, philosophy – it’s everywhere."
Even more endearing, metal monoliths Enslaved once toured over 20 Norwegian schools teaching the importance of metal music in the history of their shared culture. From the World Metal Domination interview between writer Serhan Ustunol and Enslaved, "It was simply fantastic to be given that chance. Ya know, it’s the first time a band with this kind of music has had a presentation like that for younger people, school kids, and it was really amazing."
Metal in Cartoons
One of the longest (if not THE longest) running television shows of all time, The Simpsons, has always been kind to the metal community. One of the more memorable moments highlighting this friendship comes to us from season 25, episode 9, with a cameo from Judas Priest:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUCNWA7o7YI][/youtube]
And who could forget Metallica leaving stoned bus driver Otto high and dry:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyGAQJVPfcg][/youtube]
Just this year, real metal band Okilly Dokilly (whose name is a spoof on the beloved well-meaning catch phrase of godly Simpsons' neighbor Ned Flanders) actually appeared on the show, featured in the credits with this song "White Wine Spritzer:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BEvh6HSQc0][/youtube]
Metal in Television
While there are many instances of metal in television, Marilyn Manson takes the cake in bringing his independent attitude and ultra-altered look to mainstream audiences. Manson has made waves as both himself and as a character actor. One of the funnier moments with Manson features his brief cameo on the severely underrated HBO show Eastbound and Down:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNm8up4e9MA][/youtube]
Manson's opinion echoed the rational sentiments of many in relation to music and school shootings on the controversial documentary Bowling for Columbine:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeQ4HWhPEdA][/youtube]
One of Manson's earlier appearances on TV includes a hilarious and awkward conversation between the shock-master, a panel of misfits, and the daytime talk television host Phil Donahue. One of my favorite parts of this segment is watching the stunned reactions to Manson's signature intelligence when he starts to speak:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnK8Qs70APs][/youtube]
Metal in Politics
In a bizarre "fakenews" moment from late last year, Senator Ted Cruz and industrial pioneer Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails got into a social-media-fueled argument about whether or not Cruz asked to be on the VIP list of a NIN show. Frankly, Senator Cruz, maybe people would like you more if you liked NIN is all I'm saying.
Do any moments of metal making the mainstream stick out to you? Please share below!
